By VICKI URBANIK

Funding for the struggling Portage Adult Education got a major boost Tuesday when the Porter County Commissioners agreed that $67,000 in county income tax funds should be used to shore up the program’s deficit.

The funding still needs approval from the Porter County Council. But when the issue was last discussed, several council members endorsed the move.

After the Portage School Board decided late last year to end its role as agent for the program, effectively bringing it to a halt, County Commissioner President Robert Harper suggested using county income tax funds to offset the school system’s estimated $110,000 deficit. His proposal was put on hold, as Indiana legislators considered a bill that would have provided adult ed with a funding mechanism and as officials approached other entities for help.

Harper resurrected the idea on Tuesday, saying that Portage Township School Superintendent Mike Berta believes the program will need an additional $67,000 to stay afloat for another year. Berta has secured informal funding commitments from a few entities, including the Lake County Council.

Harper noted that of the approximately 2,000 students served by Portage Adult Education, more than half are from Porter County. He also took note that adult education has programs at the Porter County Jail and through the Portage drug court.

Harper said he believes adult education is an economic development issue, citing the job prospects that open up to students who go through the program.

“I don’t think there’s much better we can do with our money than that,” he said.

The other two commissioners, North Porter County Commissioner John Evans and South County Commissioner Carole Knoblock, agreed. Evans, who made the motion to endorse the funding, said the issue of helping adult education isn’t a new issue and that county support for the program is warranted.

Corridor Planning

On hand at the commissioners’ meeting Tuesday were consultants who have just begun the county’s corridor study, which will analyze land use and make recommendations for the areas along the county’s major roadways.

Representatives from RATIO Architects and Development Concepts briefly outlined how they had a kick-off meeting earlier in the day with members of the corridor study’s advisory board, which consists of about 25 people representing various municipalities and interests.

The first public input session on the corridor plan will be on May 22, at which residents will be asked their input on what issues they see as important and what land use practices they would like to see along the roadways. The commissioners granted approval for that public meeting to be held in their chambers in the County Administration Center.

The corridor study is expected to be a 12-month process that will involve most of the county’s major roads, such as Ind. 49, U.S. 6, Meridian Road, U.S. 30 and Ind. 2.

A draft plan on the corridors is expected to be ready sometime over the winter.

Posted 4/16/2008